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Post by neferetus on Apr 2, 2006 3:40:34 GMT -5
 The Japannese Monument to the Alamo heroes and its inscription were a gift from a Japanese professor, Shigetaka Shiga who was so taken with the Alamo story and how closely it paralleled an event in Japanese history, that he travelled all the way across the ocean in long ago 1914 to present the stone to the Alamo custodians. Here is the translation from the original Chinese (then in use in Japan). To The Memory Of The Heroes Of The Alamo by Professor Shigetaka Shiga One hundred fifty are besieged by five thousand; Not only the provisions but the ammunition is all gone. Thirty-two men hear the news and hurry to the scene. The heavy strokes of their sabers lead them into the fortress, through the ranks of the enemy to see the commander of the fortress wet with blood, and his men reeling against the walls with exhaustion but with swords in hand. Now comes the dauntless South Carolinian, knowing that if he does not answer duty's call, disgrace and shame will be his. Returning he rides into the siege on a white charger, salutes the besieged with a smile and says, "We die together." They bind up their wounds and fight in higher spirits. Speak not of the bravery of Chang Hsun at Suiyang, for here one hundred eight-two corpses were laid; not a soul surrendered. The people of the 24 states get inspiration thereby, and learn for the first time that unanimous cooperation Is superior to geographical advantage. Why should they be mourned? For the dauntless, it is not a pain but a pleasure to cover an obstruction miles long. Lo! The mouth of that river once occupied by the enemy Is in possesion of the T'ang! Now I am on a journey, far away from my home across the ocean. I have come to San Antonio where there are bushes of the graceful oleander. And, as in a dream, I wonder if this is the very spot where that dreadful bloodshed took place in years gone by. You do not see Cgang Hsun, Hsu Yuan and Nan Chiyun (David Crockett, Jim Bowie and James Bonham.) But their fame, like the blossoms fragrence is still in the air. The custom of the West does not necessarily condemn surrender. Why? We have never heard of a commander destroyed, but here in the state of Texas, we see one (Travis). In spirit there is not a distinction between East and West. You need not wonder, then, if I drink a toast to your memory. I have brought a well polished stone from Japan, And commemorate your heroic deeds with this humble inscription. September, 1914. (Dr. Margit Nagy made the English translation of the inscription on the Professor Shiga's Japanese monument at the Alamo. ) |
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Post by Bromhead24 on Apr 2, 2006 8:58:49 GMT -5
Nice, thanks Nef  |
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 2, 2006 9:28:02 GMT -5
very nice
do you know anything else about the man who presented this?
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Post by neferetus on Apr 2, 2006 15:03:31 GMT -5
 Professor Shigetaka Shiga of Waseda University in Japan equated James Bonham's famous ride with that of Tori Sunewan, a defender of Nagasino castle in 1575 who, after riding out for assistance and receiving none, returned to the castle to die with his comrades. Professor Shiga also paralleled Bonham with Nan Chiyun, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty who died under similar circumstancesat the siege of Siuyang in 757. In both instances, Professor Shiga's hero is eqauted with Jim Bonham, a character curiously cut out of the latest Alamo film altogether. During the Second World War, to prevent the monument from being vandalized, it started being referred to as the 'Chinese Monument'. The same fate befell the Japanese Gardens in San Antonio's Brackenridge Park- they were referred to as the 'Chinese Gardens' for a time. And while the Gardens now continue to bear the name 'Japanese Gardens', the old 'Chinese Gardens' entry sign remains to continue to confuse the tourists. |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 2, 2006 15:41:30 GMT -5
Professor Shiga Shigetaka, (born 1863, died 1927) has been credited as "an artist who introduced the beauty of Japan to the World".
Shiga, a nationalist, was a world-class geographer who wrote Mikawa's Sons and in 1894, the best selling book, Nihon fukei-ron ( An Essay on Japanese Sceneries.) He was born at the end of the Yedo period the son of an Okazaki samurai. After graduating from the Sapporo Agricultural High School, he joined the Japanese Navy and boarded a ship to receive training in the South Pacific. Around this time he took his nationalism very seriously and worried about the Westernization of Japan. He traveled around the world three times and was appointed an honorary member of the Royal British Geography Association and the Brazilian Geography Association.
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 3, 2006 17:58:19 GMT -5
Professor Shiga Shigetaka, (born 1863, died 1927) has been credited as "an artist who introduced the beauty of Japan to the World". Shiga, a nationalist, was a world-class geographer who wrote Mikawa's Sons and in 1894, the best selling book, Nihon fukei-ron ( An Essay on Japanese Sceneries.) He was born at the end of the Yedo period the son of an Okazaki samurai. After graduating from the Sapporo Agricultural High School, he joined the Japanese Navy and boarded a ship to receive training in the South Pacific. Around this time he took his nationalism very seriously and worried about the Westernization of Japan. He traveled around the world three times and was appointed an honorary member of the Royal British Geography Association and the Brazilian Geography Association. so his family is of high social status. |
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Post by calicodreams on May 7, 2006 5:38:47 GMT -5
I love that plaque/stone! I'm already very interested in Japanese culture and their language. I might just go looking for more on that, ..like the actual Japanese text or romanji translation. I might quote it from time to time |
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Post by Bromhead24 on May 21, 2006 8:35:34 GMT -5
It's funny that the many, many times i visited the alamo i don't remember this monument.....  |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 5, 2007 23:57:16 GMT -5
 Reverse inscription on the Japanese Alamo Monument. |
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Post by Greg C. on Nov 6, 2007 14:07:21 GMT -5
I have a pic of this. I belive it is posted in the photo album in the travel section...
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Post by neferetus on Nov 13, 2007 1:24:27 GMT -5
I have a pic of this. I belive it is posted in the photo album in the travel section... Yes you do. Very nice photos, too. Here's your photo of the sign that explains the Japanese Monument.  |
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Post by Greg C. on Nov 15, 2007 17:54:22 GMT -5
I have a pic of this. I belive it is posted in the photo album in the travel section... Yes you do. Very nice photos, too. Here's your photo of the sign that explains the Japanese Monument. Thats as close as the lense could get without obstructing the wording... |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 15, 2007 19:56:14 GMT -5
Glad you got it. I was never able to get a decent photo of that sign. It always came out blurry.
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